or SPERMACETI-FISH, in zoology, a genus belonging to the order of cetæ. There are four species; the most remarkable are,

1. The microps, or black-headed cachalot, with a long fin on the back, and the upper jaw considerably longer than the under one. A fish of this kind was cast ashore on Cramond isle, near Edinburgh, December 22, 1769; its length was 54 feet; the greatest circumference, which was just beyond the eyes, 30; the upper jaw was five feet longer than the lower, whose length was ten feet. The head was of a most enormous size, very thick, and above one-third the size of the fish; the end of the upper jaw was quite blunt, and near nine feet high: the spout-hole was placed near the end of it. The teeth were placed in the lower jaw, 23 on each side, all pointing outwards; in the upper jaw, opposite to them, were an equal number of cavities, in which the ends of the teeth lodged when the mouth was closed. One of the teeth measured eight inches long, the greatest circumference the same. It is hollow within-side for the depth of three inches, and the mouth of the cavity very wide: it is thickest at the bottom, and grows very small at the point, bending very much; but in some the flexure is more than in others. These, as well as the teeth of all all other whales we have observed, are very hard, and cut like ivory. The eyes are very small, and remote from the nose. The pectoral fins were placed near the corners of the mouth, and were only three feet long; it had no other fin, only a large protuberance on the middle of the back. The tail was a little forked, and 14 feet from tip to tip. The penis seven feet and a half long. Linnaeus informs us, that this species purifies and terrifies the porpoises to such a degree as often to drive them on shore.

2. The catodon, or round headed cachalot, with a fistula in the snout, and having no back-fin. Of this species, 102 of different sizes were cast ashore at one time on one of the Orkney Isles, the largest 24 feet in length. The head is round, the opening of the mouth small. Sibbald says it has no spout-hole, but only nostrils: But Mr Pennant is of opinion, that the former being placed at the extremity of the nose, has been mistaken by him for the latter. Some teeth of this species are an inch and three quarters long, and in the largest part of the thickness of one's thumb. The top is quite flat, and marked with concentric lines; the bottom is more slender than the top, and pierced with a small orifice: instead of a back fin, there was a rough space.

For the method of extracting the spermaceti from the brain of these creatures, see the article SPERMACETI.